Albuquerque, N.M. - Democratic Party of New Mexico (DPNM) Chairwoman Debra Haaland called on the Department of Corrections to abide by New Mexico's Fair Pay for Women Act of 2013 after the Corrections Department claimed that the state departments are exempt from paying women equal pay for equal work.

"Women in the workplace deserve to be paid fairly. The fact that the Corrections Department does not want to abide by the law and the value that equal work deserves equal pay shows what Governor Martinez's administration stands for," said Debra Haaland Chairwoman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico.

New Mexico passed the Fair Pay for Women Act in 2013 and Governor Susana Martinez signed the legislation into law. The Corrections Department under the Martinez administration was accused of violating the same law the Governor touted during her election.

The Fair Pay for Women Act of 2013 protects people from wage discrimination based on gender and expands upon federal wage-discrimination law under the Equal Pay Act.